Read Online The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

think the two of us will get along very well.”
    “Me too.”
    Dora smiled. “It’s not going to be so bad. There are compensations for a new bride in the Khan family. In fact you’ll find out about one tonight.”
    Heidi forced herself to look amused by the comment, when in fact it made her want to run in the opposite direction and never be heard from again. Dora was just being friendly, she reminded herself. She couldn’t know that the thought of having to be intimate with Jamal was enough to tie her up in knots.
    Before she had to think of something to say, Fatima bustled back into the room. “Everything is in order,” she announced. “Are you ready?”
    The wedding passed in a blur, as did the banquet that followed. Safely hidden in her robe and veil, Heidi remained a silent observer to all that happened.
    One good thing about El Baharian weddings, she thought as she refused an offer of food. Nothing much was expected of the bride except that she show up and be quiet. As a student of El Baharian history, she’d been insulted by the lack of participation by one of the key players. Now as a very nervous, virgin bride, she was thrilled by her simple role. If only she could get through the rest of the night so easily.
    “Are you ready?” Jamal asked, leaning close and whispering in her ear. “I think we’ve been here long enough.”
    Heidi was torn. Leaving meant not being here…which was a good thing . She was tired of everyone staring at her. But leaving also meant being alone with Jamal, which wasn’t a good thing.
    “Sure,” she whispered back, then held out her hand so that he could help her to her feet.
    Instantly the guests began to call out comments. Khalil’s voice rose above the others as he yelled, “You couldn’t even wait an hour? Watch out, Heidi. Jamal’s going to wear you out.”
    A female voice, thick with embarrassment and outrage, shushed him. Despite the other people talking and whistling, she heard Khalil’s murmured reply. “I know what I’m talking about, Dora, because I felt exactly the same way on our wedding night.”
    Heat flared on Heidi’s cheeks. This time there was no escaping the reality of her embarrassment. Life had certainly taken a turn for the different, she thought as they stepped out of the banquet hall and into the relative quiet of the hallway.
    “How are you holding up?” Jamal asked.
    Heidi didn’t know how to answer. Actually she wasn’t sure she could answer. Jamal was trying to be kind, and she appreciated that, but she was overwhelmed by the thought that he was now her husband. They were married. Under El Baharian law, he practically owned her.
    She tried a weak smile, but she had a feeling that it came out more as a grimace. Jamal confirmed her suspicion.
    “That bad, huh?” he said, then put his hand on the small of her back and ushered her down the hall. “Tell you what. We’ll go to my suite. You can get changed there, and then we’ll head out into the desert. Once we’ve left all these people behind, you’ll feel better.”
    She swallowed. “The d-desert?”
    “Right. We spend the night out there. Don’t you remember?”
    Oh, she remembered all right, even though she’d been doing her best to forget. For the past several centuries, members of the royal family had spent their wedding night out in the desert. She knew that somewhere a large tent had been set up. Not just any tent, but a white one, filled with pillows and tapestries and a big bed on a dais. There would be trays of food, bottles of champagne and wine, scented oils, and who knows what other items to delight the senses.
    “Here we go,” Jamal said as he stopped in front of two carved double doors.
    Heidi stared, then licked her lips. “These would be, ah, your rooms?”
    “Our rooms now. When we get back tomorrow, we’ll have your things moved here from the harem.”
    They were going to share rooms…and a bed. A strangled cry caught in her throat. She did her best to